Hard scale liverwort • Mylia taylorii

Hard scale liverwort in a bog on Calvert Island. Photo by Nancy Shackelford.

IdentificationHard scale liverwort is a large liverwort, growing up to 12 cm long with leaves as large as 2.5 mm. The leaves grow opposite to each other along the stems in overlapping shingles. The leaves are round to oval, with edges bent backwards, and have a reddish-green tinge in large populations.

Habitat & RangeFound predominantly on logs in forests and forested peatlands, but occurring at times in open bogs and fens. The full range is unknown, but the species will occur in shaded, low-elevation sites with open water or moist conditions

Similar SpeciesHard scale liverwort can be confused with anomalous flapwort (Mylia anomola) but can be distinguished by flapwort's distinctive, narrow, pointed leaves and by the larger size of the hard scale liverwort.